70+ Adjectives for Fear Use the free Character Adjective Canvas below to click traits to build and save a character profile, or browse all 71 curated words.
Adjectives for fear help you describe terror, dread and unease with more nuance than just afraid or scared. Use this list to sharpen a horror scene, a suspenseful moment, or a character's inner monologue.
Character Adjective Canvas Click traits to build a character profile, saved in your browser. Email it to yourself with the full Word Bank.
Curated word bank Sparklines show each word's usage in published books since 1800 (Google Books Ngram data). The dot marks the peak decade.
TerrifiedUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s PetrifiedUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s HorrifiedUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s FrightenedUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s ScaredUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s AfraidUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s AnxiousUsage since 1800, peak in the 1830s ApprehensiveUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s UneasyUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s NervousUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s JitteryUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s JumpyUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s ShakyUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s TremblingUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s PanickedUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s AlarmedUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s StartledUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s SpookedUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s UnnervedUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s UnsettledUsage since 1800, peak in the 1830s RattledUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s ShakenUsage since 1800, peak in the 1840s ParalyzedUsage since 1800, peak in the 1880s FrozenUsage since 1800, peak in the 1950s StunnedUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s DazedUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s OverwhelmedUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s DreadfulUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s OminousUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s ForebodingUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s MenacingUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s SinisterUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s EerieUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s HauntingUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s ChillingUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s Bone-chilling Spine-tingling Hair-raising Blood-curdling MacabreUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s GhastlyUsage since 1800, peak in the 1860s GruesomeUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s HarrowingUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s DistressingUsage since 1800, peak in the 1820s TormentedUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s HauntedUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s TenseUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s SuspensefulUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s ClaustrophobicUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s SuffocatingUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s VulnerableUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s HelplessUsage since 1800, peak in the 1860s DefenselessUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s ExposedUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s CorneredUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s TrappedUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s WaryUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s SuspiciousUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s DistrustfulUsage since 1800, peak in the 1840s HypervigilantUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s On-edge FretfulUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s WorriedUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s TroubledUsage since 1800, peak in the 1840s DisturbedUsage since 1800, peak in the 1840s AgitatedUsage since 1800, peak in the 1820s RestlessUsage since 1800, peak in the 1850s InsecureUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s TimidUsage since 1800, peak in the 1840s CoweringUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s QuakingUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s More character tools Looking for another word bank or tool? Browse every writing tool →
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